HAPPY v2.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Healthy Aging Pharmacogenomics & Polypharmacy
IRAS ID
295387
Contact name
Suzanne Drury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Congenica
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN99830995
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications (3 or more) at the same time is common amongst older individuals and/or in people with multiple co-morbidities. In these populations, medicines are frequently associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs), falls risk and may have a negative impact on both cognition and quality of life. There are an estimated 237M medication errors per year in the NHS (England), with 66M of these potentially clinically significant. "Definitely avoidable" adverse drug reactions collectively cost ~£100M annually, contribute to ~1700 deaths/year and are directly responsible for an additional ~700 deaths/year. Evidence demonstrates that over 40% of ADR-related hospital admissions may be preventable.
Pharmacogenomic (PGx), the study of how genes affect an individual's response to drugs, aims to provide information to improve safety and effectiveness of drug treatment. Pharmacogenomic information can be considered actionable if it leads to a change in prescribing decisions, such as alternative medications or dosing. PGx has been shown to be effective for preventing potential side effects of polypharmacy. As a strategy for optimizing medication usage, PGx is becoming an important element of precision medicine with significant potential impact in older people with polypharmacy.
This research study aims to investigate the use of a PGx-led approach to the management of polypharmacy. The aim is to assess outcomes e.g., actionable PGx DNA sequence variants, de-prescribing, reduced ADRs and effect on number and length of hospital admissions and General Practice (GP) visits. In addition, we will aim to use SMART devices to capture patient reported outcomes to monitor qualitative impacts of deprescribing, dose alteration or provision of alternative medications and to assess clinical implementation pathway of PGx in primary care.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0166
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion